Suspended heel-piece for the safety binding of a ski

ABSTRACT

A binding for a boot on a gliding board, such as a ski. The binding includes a jaw connected to the ski via a first journalled connection with two curved side arms which are themselves journalled with respect to the ski about a journal axis. The first journal axis is located at the end of the upper arm portion of the curved side arms, such that the jaw is suspended downwardly with respect to the axis of the first journalled connection and the elastic mechanism is arranged beneath the such axis.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a system for binding a boot on agliding board, and more particularly a system to fix the rear end of theboot on the gliding board, for which the gliding board can be a ski or asnowboard.

2. Description of Background and Relevant Information

Various types of rear bindings for a boot on a ski, such as rear pivots,on the one hand, and heel-pieces, on the other hand, are known fromspecialized publications as well as commercially available products.

The rear pivots generally have a circular plate journalled along avertical axis with respect to the plane of the ski, which receives anelastic release system itself journalled on the plate along a horizontalaxis with respect to the plane of the ski due to lateral arms thatconnect the release system to the ski. One of the drawbacks of this typeof binding is that, in the constructive versions mentioned in the FrenchPatents No. 2368973, No. 2299883, and No. 2502019, there is a freedom ofrotation of the release system about the vertical axis of the plate thatdoes not favor the reinsertion of the binding. In the constructiveversion disclosed in the French Patent No. 2598934 which improves theconditions for reinsertion of the aforementioned bindings, there remainsa drawback that this type of binding does not make it possible to absorbthe forces generated by the bending of the ski. It has been noted thatfor the bindings described in these patents, some of the release valuesrequired by the safety standards are achieved with much difficulty,because these constructions do not make it possible to satisfactorilytake into account the return forces due to the bending of the ski whenthe latter is taking point supports at the tip and tail.

Although heel-pieces, which are the most widely spread rear bindings,offer much interest in terms of comfort of use and safety (insertion,removal, adjustments), they however have a drawback related to skiingthat lies in the fact that this type of binding must overcome thedisadvantages due to its constructive mode by annexing a return devicein order to take into account the return forces generated precisely bythe bending of the ski when it is taking point supports at the tip andtail.

The positioning of this return device on a heel-piece then requiresparticular arrangements thereof, which somewhat complicate itsconstruction and increase its manufacturing cost.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

One of the objects of the invention is to propose a binding that is easyto insert and remove, but that does not require the addition of aparticular mechanism to absorb the bendings of the ski when theygenerate variations in length between the abutment and the rear binding.

The device thus proposed by the invention aims at preserving the freedomof the ski at best due to more improved arrangements than those knownfrom the prior pivots while conserving the qualities acknowledged in theheel-pieces.

Another object of the invention is to propose a binding in which theelastic release system comprises new structural arrangements thatinclude only one elastic device ensuring both release and returnfunctions, without requiring auxiliary elastic means as in theheel-pieces.

To this end, the safety binding of a boot on the ski according to theinvention includes a body that is movable in a vertical and longitudinalplane with respect to the ski and comprises a jaw adapted to retain anend of the boot, this body being connected to the ski by two curved sidearms by means of a first journal axis transverse to the ski, located atthe end of the upper arm portion oriented toward the top of said curvedarms, and of a second journal axis transverse to the ski affixed to thelatter and cooperating, in the vicinity of the end of the boot beneaththe level of the sole, with the end of the lower arm portion of thecurved arms. Elastic means are housed in the body, adapted to return thejaw toward the ski, wherein the connection of the jaw body with the twocurved side arms is constituted, for example, by the cooperation of aguiding pivot affixed to each of the curved side arms with a guidingramp arranged on each of the lateral walls of the jaw body, wherein theguiding pivot also constitutes the journal axis of a maneuvering leverthat can pivot in the zone of the upper end of the curved side arms,whereas the elastic energy means are arranged beneath the journal axisof the maneuvering lever, one of the ends of which is connected to thebody of the jaw by another journalled axis, and wherein the lateralwalls of the jaw body comprise a second ramp, a so-called “releaseramp,” in which cooperates a lug affixed to the curved side arms,located beneath the axis of the guiding pivots and enabling a release ofthe jaw body in the median vertical plane of the ski, when the userexerts an action on the other end of the maneuvering lever.

According to another embodiment of the binding according to theinvention, the guiding ramp of the jaw body is inclined along adirection oriented from the front toward the rear and upwardly withrespect to the plane of the ski when the jaw is in the insertedposition. This particularly advantageous constructional arrangementmakes it possible to absorb variations in length between the frontabutment and the rear binding. Indeed, the displacement of the jaw bodyon the guiding pivots, due to the inclination of the guiding ramp,allows a substantial variation in the free spacing left for differentboot sole lengths, but also when the bending of the ski tends to reducethis spacing on the boot during skiing.

According to another characteristic of the invention, the release rampis constituted of a first portion whose general axis is arrangedsubstantially parallel to the guiding ramp, and of a second portionforming a bend with the first portion, which bend constitutes the zonedefining the release point of the jaw.

Finally, according to another alternative embodiment, the technicalcharacteristics of the rear binding according to the invention can beimproved due to a particular arrangement of the curved side arms, thesurface of the lower arm portions of which, located across from theupper surface of the ski, comprises a profile diverging from the fronttoward the rear with respect to the surface of the ski extending over atleast a portion of the length of the lower arm portions.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will be better understood from the description below,provided by way of a non-limiting example, with reference to the annexeddrawings, in which:

FIG. 1 shows a side view of a rear binding according to the invention,mounted on a ski in the so-called boot inserted position according to aparticular construction mode for embodying the invention;

FIG. 2 shows a top view of the rear binding according to FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 shows a cross-sectional view of the binding according to FIG. 1;

FIGS. 3a and 3 b are enlarged partial cross-sectional side and frontviews, respectively, of the jaw of the binding according to FIG. 3;

FIG. 4 shows the binding according to the invention shown in theso-called boot released position, when the boot is released under theeffect of a force greater than that of the force for retaining the boot;

FIG. 5 shows the binding according to the invention in the so-calledopening position under the effect of a force exerted on its maneuveringlever;

FIG. 6 shows a partial cross-sectional view of a binding according tothe invention mounted on the ski in the so-called boot insertedposition, whose embodiment comprises elastic energy mechanismconstituted by two springs arranged coaxially;

FIG. 7 shows a chart of the forces to which each of the springs issubject as a function of its camber in the course of constructing thebinding according to FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 also shows a partial cross-sectional view of a detail of thebinding according to FIG. 3, which relates to a device for retaining andstabilizing the curved side arms in the vicinity of the ski;

FIGS. 9a, 9 b, and 9 c show a partial lateral cross-sectional view, across-sectional side view, and a top view, respectively, of a portion ofthe length adjusting device of the rear binding according to theinvention;

FIG. 10 shows a partial lateral view of the constructional detail of thelower arm portion of one of the curved side arms of the bindingaccording to the invention;

FIGS. 11a and 11 b show a lateral cross-section and a top view,respectively, of an alternative construction of a length adjustingdevice housed between the curved side arms of the binding comprising aski brake integrated into its structure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Because the binding according to the invention shown in the variousdrawing figures represents a new compromise between the rear pivots andthe heel-pieces, it will be designated, hereinafter, as the “suspendedheel-piece.”

The suspended heel-piece 1 according to the invention shown in FIG. 1 ismounted on the upper surface of a ski 2. This suspended heel-piece 1 isadapted to retain the rear end of a boot 3 on the ski at the level ofthe upper edge of the sole 4 of the boot, on which the sole-clamp 5 of ajaw 6 takes support. This jaw 6 is constituted by a hollow body 7housing the elastic energy mechanism 8 that returns the body of the jaw6, 7 toward the ski, and which also enables the release of the body ofthe jaw 6, 7 to free the sole 4 of the boot when the forces exerted bythe latter on the rear binding exceed a predetermined threshold beyondwhich the release of the boot is necessary to respect the user's safety.

The body of the jaw 6, 7 is connected to the ski via two curved sidearms 9, 10 by means of a first journal axis 11 located at the upper endof the curved side arms 9, 10, on the one hand, and by means of a secondjournal axis 12 transverse to the ski and affixed thereto.

Furthermore, the axis 11 located at the upper end of the curved sidearms 9, 10 serves as a journal axis for a maneuvering lever 15 thatextends upwardly in the extension of the curved side arms. Themaneuvering arm 15 is constituted by two lever arms 15′ and 15″ ofdifferent lengths determined by the position of the journal axis 11. Thelongest lever arm 15′ constitutes the maneuvering member itself of thelever 15. The lever arm 15″, shorter than the lever 15′, for example ina 1-5 ratio, is connected at its end to the body of the jaw 6, 7 by ajournalled driving axis 16. This driving axis 16 makes it possible toobtain the upward release of the body of the jaw 6, 7 when themaneuvering lever is pivotally actuated about the axis 11 under theeffect of a force directed downward according to the direction of thearrow 17 shown in FIG. 1.

According to FIG. 1, the transverse axis 12 is arranged in a plate 13which is itself affixed to the ski by binding means 14, such as screws.If necessary, this plate 13 comprises means for the lengthwiseadjustment of the position of the rear binding according to theinvention, which are mentioned hereinafter. The axis 12 is thereforelocated beneath the boot sole, in the zone of the rear end thereof.

FIG. 2 enables one to note that the curved side arms 9, 10 are spacedapart along a shorter distance than the width of the sole 4. Thisdistance advantageously corresponds to the width of the plate 13 that ishoused between the arms.

Furthermore, in the case of the constructional arrangement envisioned,the journal axis 11 is obtained from two guiding pins or pivots 11′,each mounted on the curved arms 9, 10 on each side of the binding, whichextend freely through the maneuvering lever 15 to cooperate with a ramp19 arranged in the rear upper zone of the body of the jaw 7.

FIG. 3 shows the suspended heel-piece according to the invention whenthe boot 3 is in the inserted position on the ski. The cross-sectionalview makes it possible to note that the body of the jaw 7 is arrangedwith a housing 18 hollowed out in its mass, in which elastic energymechanism 8 constituted by a spiral spring, for example, are inserted.This spring then takes support on the ends of each of the guiding pivots11′ whose length is provided to run into the housing 18 in the upperzone of the jaw body, whereas in the lower zone of the body of the jaw7, a threaded cap 20 rotationally immobilized with respect to the body 7maintains the other support surface of the spring compressed in thehousing 18. The threaded cap 20 then plays the role of a nut for anadjusting screw 21 acting on the variation in the compression of thespring.

A distribution spacer 27 can be inserted between the spring 18 and thegenerating line of support for the guiding pivots 11′ to betterdistribute the compressive forces on the pivots. Thus, the jaw issubject to a downward traction with respect to the curved side arms 9,10.

Of course, the structure of the guiding pivots can be different fromthat described hereinabove, without leaving the scope of the invention.For example, rather than the pivots 11′ being affixed to the curvedarms, they can be affixed to the distribution spacer that is providedwith two diametrically opposed pins freely cooperating in rotation withbearings provided in each of the curved side arms. In all cases, thedistribution spacer 27 includes a passage hole making it possible toreceive the adjusting screw 21 therein. Similarly, one can provide anelastic shock-absorbing washer 28 whose thickness at rest is greaterthan the free space left between the top of the distribution spacer 27and the bottom of the housing 18 when the pivots have been pushed back,under the effect of the spring 8, toward the upper bottom of the guidingramp 19.

The body of the jaw 7 is thus suspended at the upper end of the curvedside arms 9, 10, such that this new type of binding does correspond tothe aforementioned designation of suspended heel-pieces.

Furthermore, the main axis of the housing 18 is oriented substantiallyparallel to the direction of the upper arm portions 9′, 10′ of thecurved arms 9, 10, inclined from the front toward the rear and towardthe top of the ski along an acute angle, which selection can vary, forexample, according to values ranging from 80° to 60°.

FIGS. 3a and 3 b show enlarged design details of the body of the jaw 6,7 as mounted in position according to FIG. 3. To this end, the jaw bodyis shown in a side view, right behind the surface of the curved side arm9 so as to more clearly disclose the type of its constructive elements.Thus, each of the lateral sides of the body of the jaw 7 comprises, inits rear upper zone, a guiding ramp 19 hollowed out in the form of anelongated slot whose axis is advantageously parallel with that of thehousing 18, and in which the guiding pivot 11′, coming from each of thecurved side arms 9, 10, cooperates. At a distance equal to that of thecenter distance determined by the journal axes 11 and 16, the wall ofthe jaw body comprises a second elongated slot 22 with which thejournalled driving axis 16, coming from the end of the small lever arm15″ of the maneuvering lever 15, cooperates. This elongated slot 22 isoriented substantially perpendicular to the axis of the guiding ramp 19.

In addition to the guiding ramps 19, the jaw body comprises a so-calledrelease ramp 23, also arranged on each of its sides, which is adapted tocooperate with a lug 24 affixed to the curved side arm 9, 10.Advantageously, this release ramp 23 is bored in the wall of the body ofthe jaw 7, such that the lug 24 can easily be housed therein withoutcreating any excessive thickness. This release ramp is constituted bytwo portions, one of which is a substantially rectilinear portion 25,called a “retraction ramp” oriented parallel to the guiding ramp 19, andthe other of which is a curved portion called escape ramp 26 forming abend with the retraction ramp 25 while being oriented toward the rear ofthe jaw body. The release ramp 23 thus obtained is constituted of acombination of two successive ramps, the retraction ramp 25 and theescape ramp 26, preferably localized in the lower zone of the jaw bodyso as to ensure that the release movement of the latter is properlydirected during releases of the suspended heel-piece subject to a biasof opening forces.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 3a, the curve of the escape ramp 26 ispreferably centered at a point close to the journal axis 11, in a zonelocated to the left of the latter, so as to cause a slight decompressionof the spring 8 when the lug 24 has gone past the so-called releasepoint defined by the bend between the two ramps 25 and 26.

In this regard, it should be noted that the profile of the release ramp23 is not limited to that described hereinabove. Indeed, the median axisof the retraction ramp 25 and the median axis of the escape ramp canalso form therebetween a different 90° angle whose vertex determines thespring release point.

The release point is determined by the intersection of the two ramps 25and 26, and corresponds to the vertex of the angle formed by the twoportions of the release ramp 23, which is directed toward the front ofthe ski.

FIG. 3b further shows a particularly interesting additional arrangementfor the suspended heel-piece according to the invention, which isdeveloped in more detail with reference to FIG. 8.

Indeed, the assembly of the curved side arms 9, 10 that carries the jaw6, 7 pivots freely about the journal axis 12. This has the advantage ofbeing capable of tilting the suspended heel-piece completely from therear toward the front of the ski, thus clearing the access to thebinding means 14 located at the rear of the adjusting slide supportingthe plate 13.

However, this advantage can prove undesirable, especially duringtransportation of the skis whose suspended heel-pieces can be caused topivot without retention about the journal axis 12.

To mitigate this undesirable effect, the rear lower zone of each of thecurved side arms 9, 10 has been provided with a device 37 for theelastic stabilization of the curved arms with respect to the ski, whichfacilitates the return to the position before insertion of theheel-piece on the ski.

To this end, the elastic stabilizing device 37 is constituted of anelastic piston 38 having two conical end-pieces 39 spaced apart by meansof a spring 40, and of a positioning dome 41 arranged on the inner wallsof each of the curved side arms 9, 10.

The elastic piston 38 is mounted transversely with respect to thelongitudinal axis of the ski in a boring 42 provided in the rearextension of the body of the plate 13. The two conical end-pieces 39overlap the plate to cooperate with either of the points A, B, C, or Dof the positioning dome 41.

Each of the positioning domes 41 is configured by a succession ofinclined planes whose intersection constitutes:

point 41A, equivalent to a position of the heel-piece during insertion,corresponding to the binding according to FIG. 5;

point 41B, equivalent to a stable position of the heel-piece when it isin position, at rest without bias, corresponding to the position of thebinding according to FIG. 1;

point 41C, equivalent to a release position of the heel-piece,corresponding to the position of the binding according to FIG. 4;

point 41D, equivalent to a complete release of the heel-piece about itsaxis 12. The funnel shape of the inclined plane 41F then makes itpossible to reengage the elastic stabilizing device 37 in the position41A or 41B, if necessary, by mere pressure on the heel-piece assembly.

FIG. 4 shows the suspended heel-piece according to the invention whenthe binding is subject to a release force due to an ill-timed bias ofthe boot during skiing, indicated by the arrow 29, whose value isgreater than the preadjusted release value of the binding. At thismoment, the body of the jaw 6, 7 moves upwardly along a trajectorydefined by the retraction ramp 25 cooperating with the lug 24,simultaneously and in combination with the cooperation of the guidingramp 19 with the guiding pivots 11′, the whole under the effect of theelastic element 8 that is still compressed; as a result, the assembly ofthe two curved side arms 9, 10 performs a rotation about the journalaxis 12 by moving away from the surface of the ski, according to amovement shown by the arrow 30. When the lug 24 reaches the bend formedby the retraction ramp 25 and the escape ramp 26 to overlap the bendthat constitutes the release point of the jaw 6, 7, the latter, stillunder the effect of the spring 8, at the very moment when the releasepoint is reached, tilts upwardly along a rotational movement centered onthe axis 11 of the guiding pivots 11′, as indicated by the arrow 31, andcauses the opening of the binding that has the effect of completelyreleasing the boot. The rear binding according to the invention is thenin a so-called insertion position shown in particular in FIG. 5 of thepresent document.

Of course, the suspended heel-piece can also be maneuvered to perform avoluntary removal of the boot. In this case, by a voluntary action ofthe skier exerting a thrust (indicated by the arrow 17 in FIG. 1 or 5)in the zone 15′ of the maneuvering lever 15, the latter generates arotation of the maneuvering lever 15 about the axis 11 of the pivots 11′which slide in the guiding ramp 19 arranged in each of the lateral wallsof the jaw 6, 7 and compress the spring 8. Simultaneously and under theeffect of the thrust 17, the assembly of the curved side arms 9, 10 alsocomes in support on the ski, at the level of the lower arm portions 9″,10″ of each of the side arms; the jaw 6, 7 then moves according to thesame process as previously described during a release due to anill-timed bias of the boot while skiing. Since the compression of thespring 8 is maximum at the time when the lug 24 reaches the bend formedbetween the two ramps 25 and 26 of the release ramp 23, the profile ofthe escape ramp 26 slightly decompresses the spring 8 so as to cause thejaw 6, 7 to open to the maximum under the effect of the latter. Toimprove the conditions under which the jaw 6, 7 opens, the maneuveringlever 15 is designed to take support on a lift abutment 32 arranged onthe rear of the assembly of the curved side arms 9, 10 at the level ofthe upper portion of the upper arm portions 9′, 10′. This support isobtained under the effect of the maximum compression of the spring 8when the maneuvering lever 15 is actuated and thereby causes a change inthe ratio between the lever arms 15′ and 15″, which then shifts from 1to 2 for the lever arm 15″ that extends from the lift abutment 32 to theaxis 16, and for the lever arm 15′ that extends from the abutment 32 tothe end of the maneuvering lever where the opening force is applied.This change in the value of the lever arms 15′ and 15″ allows a lowamplitude rearward tilting of the lever 15 promoting the completeopening of the jaw, if necessary.

As is the case after an ill-timed opening, the heel-piece is thus in theso-called insertion position shown in FIG. 5, ready to be reinserted.

To this end, the sole of the boot 3 takes support on the insertion pedal33 that is an integral part of the jaw 6, 7 (FIG. 5).

The insertion force applied on this pedal 33 causes the assembly of thecurved side arms 9, 10 to pivot downwardly about the axis 12, such thatthis assembly takes support via the lower arm portions 9″, 10″ on theupper surface of the ski. Simultaneously to this pivoting movement ofthe curved side arms, the body of the jaw 6, 7 pivots about the axis 11of the guiding pivots 11′; this pivoting movement causes the escape ramp26 to displace on each of the lugs 24 affixed to the curved side armsuntil the lugs arrive in the retraction ramp 25; at this moment, thespring 8 slackens partially and causes the downward displacement of thebody of the jaw 6, 7 along the trajectory, defined concurrently by theprofile of the ramp 25 with the lug 24 and the guiding ramp 19 with theguiding pivots 11′ until blocking the sole 4 of the boot between thesole-clamp 5 and the plate 13 to find again the position of the insertedbinding, as shown in FIG. 1 or 3.

The construction shown in FIG. 6 represents a suspended heel-pieceaccording to the invention, in which the elastic energy mechanism isadvantageously constituted by two compression springs 34 and 35 mountedin series in the housing 18 arranged in the body of the jaw 6, 7. Tothis end, one of the springs, called the inner spring 34, is freelynested in the second spring, called the outer spring 35, on at least aportion of their respective length. A separating spacer 33 retains eachof the two springs respectively in support one against the other, on theone hand, and against the guiding pivots 11′ for one, and against thenut 20 for the other. This construction has the advantage of procuring aspring characteristic that can restore substantial compressiondistances, although it is arranged in a housing whose length for housinga compression spring is reduced. Furthermore, it is possible to obtain,with this construction, a very wide release adjustment range whilekeeping a substantial spring force at the adjustment point of theminimum hardness of the heel-piece.

The diagram of FIG. 7 discloses the advantage of this constructionalarrangement.

The diagram shows several types of straight lines which represent,respectively:

the curve 35′ of the compressive forces (load) as a function of thecompression distance (camber) imposed during a bias in the case of thespring 35, if it were mounted alone in the binding;

the curve 34′ in the case of the spring 34, if it were mounted alone inthe binding;

the curve 36′ (broken straight line) induced in the case of the serialmounting of the springs 34, 35.

Considering this broken straight line 36′, the latter corresponds to asituation of the state of the springs present for various points ofadjustment of the hardness of the heel-piece. The point (a) indicated onthe straight line portion 36′ corresponds to a predetermined adjustmentof minimum hardness to which a release force, indicated by the point (b)of the same straight line portion 36′a, corresponds; similarly, thepoint (c) indicated on the straight line portion 36′b corresponds to apredetermined adjustment of maximum hardness to which a release force,indicated by the point (d) of the same straight line portion 36′b,corresponds. In this spring configuration shown, one obtainsadvantageously that the points (b) and (d) are located on the samestraight line portion 36′b, for example. One thus obtains a betterdistribution of the adjustment values of the heel-piece.

FIGS. 9a, 9 b, and 9 c show an alternative embodiment of the connectionof the second journal axis 12 of the suspended heel-piece with the ski2. In this alternative construction, the axis 12 is adjustably affixedto the ski by means of a notched slide 64 fixed on the ski by the screws14. In a known fashion, this slide 64 comprises support bosses 44through which the screws 14 pass. The height of the support bossesdetermines a clearance between the slide and the upper surface of theski, which makes it possible to insert the bottom 43 of the plate 13therein. The plate 13 in the exemplary case shown is generally U-shaped,the bottom 43 comprises sliding slots 45 whose width corresponds to thediameter of each of the support bosses 44. The length of these slidingslots 45 determines the allowed trajectory of the plate 13 with respectto the slide 64. The two lateral walls 43′ of the U-shaped plate receivethe journal axis 12 with which the end of the lower arm portions 9″, 10″of each of the curved side arms cooperates rotationally. A foot-restcover 46 is inserted between the lateral wall 43′ of the plate 13 towhich it is advantageously affixed via the journal axis 12. Thisfoot-rest cover 46 comprises an inner cage 47 which makes it possible toreceive an adjusting screw 48 whose worm screw portion cooperates withthe notches 49 of the notched slide 64. The maneuver of this screwcauses a displacement of the suspended heel-piece assembly with respectto the notched slide 64 and, therefore, with respect to the ski.Advantageously, the portion of the foot-rest cover 46 adapted to come incontact with the boot sole is constituted by the edge of a dihedron 50,transverse with respect to the longitudinal axis. According to anothervariation, not shown but which can be easily embodied, this edge 50 isconstituted by the generating line of a cylindrical surface. Theadvantage of this constructional arrangement is to increase the abilityto absorb the variations in length generated by the bending movements ofthe ski due to the interdependency of the effects of certainconstructional characteristics of the lower arm portions 9″, 10″ of eachof the curved side arms 9, 10. It is noted in this regard, and for thesame reasons, that the rear extension of the body of the plate 13 thatreceives a portion of the elastic stabilizing device 37 is also providedwith a U-shaped structure whose bottom 43 is distanced from the plane ofthe ski along a predetermined angle A.

FIG. 10 shows the detail of the profile of each of the lower armportions 9″, 10″ of the curved side arms 9, 10. As has been mentionedpreviously, the principle of the suspended heel-piece according to theinvention has been developed to meet the need to allow the ski orgliding board to bend as freely as possible with respect to the boot. Tothis end, the advantages of the suspended heel-piece already describedare further amplified, when according to a characteristic related to theinvention, the profile of the lower arm portions 9″, 10″ of the curvedside arms coming in support on the upper surface of the ski when thelatter is subject to bendings, meets certain criteria of construction.It is provided that the rectilinear front portion 99 of the profile ofthe lower arm portions 9″, 10″, which normally rests on the uppersurface of the ski when the suspended heel-piece is in the reinsertionposition (FIG. 5), extend advantageously up to a point of inflexion 51located approximately perpendicular to the insertion pedal 32. Beyondthe point of inflexion 51, the rear portion 100 of the profile inquestion is constituted by a rectilinear portion forming an angle A withthe plane of the ski (still when the suspended heel-piece is in itsreinsertion position according to FIG. 5), and continues with a roundingtoward the upper arm portion 9′, 10′ of the curved side arms.

When the boot is mounted on the ski, between a front binding known perse and the suspended heel-piece according to the invention, the frontportion of the profile 99 of the lower arm portions 9″, 10″ defines anangle B with respect to the plane of the ski. This angle B provides themeasurement of the ski bending amplitude, without the bootbindingassembly being affected by the bending. Due to this angular clearance Aattributed by construction to the rear portion of the profile 100 of thelower arm portions 9″, 10″, this amplitude can further increase up tothe value (A+B) to absorb substantial variations in bending, without thelatter influencing the release values of the binding. It is noted inpassing that the arrangement of the angle B formed by the front portion99 of the profile of the lower arms 9″, 10″ with the plane of the skinot only enables the aforementioned improvement during bending of theski, but also makes it possible to absorb a snow wedge between the sole4 and the foot-rest cover 46 of the plate 13, because the front portion99 of the profile of the lower arm portions, which comes in support withthe plane of the ski, limits the rearward tilting of the curved sidearms 9, 10 by maintaining the maximum gripping height capacity(sole+snow wedge) subject to the tightening of the jaw.

Furthermore, the dihedral structure of the foot-rest cover 46 or 56further improves the ski bending absorption conditions in that each ofthe planes of the dihedron forms an angle A with respect to the plane ofthe boot sole, which allows an angular movement of the dihedron involvedwith respect to the plane of the sole 4 without disturbing the latter.

FIGS. 11a and 11 b show a longitudinal and top cross-section of analternative embodiment of the adjustable plate. This variation shows anotched slide provided to be lengthy, for a so-called locating bindingthat is capable of accepting several lengths of boot sizes.

To this end, the notched slide 54 is advantageously made in a hard, butthin and flexible material, so that it can deform and return to itsinitial position during a succession of bendings of the ski.

In this type of construction, the adjusting screw has been replaced by atoothed latch 53 subject to a spring 52 taking support in a housing 55provided for this purpose in the foot-rest cover 56 of the plate 13.This spring 52 applies the toothed latch 53 in the notches 57 of thenotched slide 54 for a desired adjustment in length of the position ofthe plate 13 on the slide 54 and, therefore, for a correspondingadjustment in length of the journal axis 12 of the suspended heel-piece.Another advantage of this constructional arrangement lies in the factthat the foot-rest cover 56 affixed to the plate 13 at the level of thejournal axis 12 can also serve as a bearing unit for mounting a skibrake 58 of a known type constituted of two lateral spades 59 connectedto an actuating plate 60, the whole being energized by a twisting buckle61 affixed to the plate via two bearings 62 arranged in the latter andin which the two returns 63 of the twisting buckle 61 rotate.

The originality of the construction is due not only to the fact that theski brake is subject to the same length adjustment as the suspendedheel-piece itself, but also to the fact that the operational play of theadjusting device assembly is immobilized efficiently by the action ofinserting the boot that acts directly on the support plate 60 of the skibrake. Indeed, the insertion force on the support plate 60 of the skibrake causes a frontward rotation of the twisting buckle 61, about eachof the bearings 62 where the two buckle returns 63 are maintainedagainst the upper surface of the slide 54. Because of the angle formedbetween each of the buckle returns 63 and each of the strands of thebuckle 61, an upward vertical force is generated which tends to flattenthe bottom 43 of the plate 13 against the lower surface 54′ of the slide54.

Other variations of this type of construction can be envisioned withoutleaving the scope of the invention, for which the suspended heel-pieceassembly provided with a ski brake is adjustable in length. Similarly,the present description relative to any particular embodiment of thebinding according to the invention is provided for guidance only, andother embodiments could be adopted without leaving the scope thereof.

What is claimed is:
 1. A binding for releasably retaining a boot to agliding board by retaining an end of the boot to the gliding board, saidbinding comprising: a body movable in a vertical and longitudinal planewith respect to the gliding board, said body comprising a jaw adapted toretain the end of the boot, said body to be connected to the glidingboard by two curved side arms by means of a first journal extendingalong a first axis transverse to the gliding board, located at an end ofan upper arm portion of said curved arms, and of a second journalextending along a second axis transverse to the gliding board,cooperating affixedly with the ski in the vicinity of an end of the bootbeneath a sole of the boot and with a front end of a lower arm portionof said curved arms; an elastic mechanism adapted to return said jawtoward a surface of the gliding board, said elastic mechanism beinghoused in said body of the jaw, wherein the connection of said body ofthe jaw with each of said two curved side arms is constituted by aguiding pivot cooperating with a guiding ramp, wherein said guidingpivot and said guiding ramp are arranged across from each other oneither said body of the jaw or said curved side arms; a maneuveringlever journalled about an axis of said guiding pivot for moving said jawfrom a boot inserted position to a boot released position, saidmaneuvering lever having at least two ends, a first of said two ends ofsaid maneuvering lever cooperating with said body of the jaw by anotherjournal, a second of said two ends of said maneuvering lever beingsubject to a downward thrust, causing an upward movement of said jaw tosaid boot released position, said elastic mechanism being arrangedbeneath said axis of said guiding pivot of said maneuvering lever; saidjaw having opposite lateral walls cooperating with respective ones ofsaid curved side arms during movement of said maneuvering lever, wherebyeach of said lateral walls of said jaw includes a release ramp or arelease lug and each of said curved side arms includes a release ramp ora release lug, each of said release lugs being guided by a respectiveone of said release ramps, said release lugs being arranged beneath saidaxis of said guiding pivot of said maneuvering lever.
 2. A bindingaccording to claim 1, wherein in the boot inserted position, each saidguiding ramp of said body of the jaw is inclined in a directionextending rearwardly and upwardly.
 3. A binding according to claim 1,wherein said elastic mechanism is constituted by at least onecompression spring, said compression spring having a compression axisperpendicular to the journal axis of said maneuvering lever, saidcompression spring being inclined in a direction extending rearwardlyand upwardly.
 4. A binding according to claim 1, wherein said elasticmechanism is constituted by two compression springs having differentcharacteristics, said two compression springs being mounted in series,one of said two compression springs being partially within the other ofsaid two compression springs.
 5. A binding according to claim 1, whereineach said release ramp is constituted by two substantially longitudinalportions forming therebetween an angle having a forwardly directedvertex.
 6. A binding according to claim 5, wherein one of said twolongitudinal portions of each said release ramp is a substantiallyrectilinear portion constituting a retraction ramp, said retraction rampbeing parallel with said guiding ramp, and a second of said twolongitudinal portions of each said release ramp is a curved portionconstituting an escape ramp, said escape ramp being oriented toward arear of said jaw.
 7. A binding according to claim 6, wherein said escaperamp comprising a curve centered at a point in front of and close to thejournal axis said maneuvering lever.
 8. A binding according to claim 1,wherein a respective one of said guiding ramps is arranged in each ofsaid lateral walls of said jaw and cooperates with one of said guidingpivots affixed to a respective one of said curved side arms.
 9. Abinding according to claim 1, wherein a respective one of said guidingramps is arranged in each of said lateral walls of said jaw andcooperates with one of said guiding pivots movable translationally insaid body of the jaw under the effect of said elastic mechanism andmovable rotationally with respect to each of said curved side arms. 10.A binding according to claim 1, wherein a respective one of said releaseramps is arranged in each of said lateral walls of a lower zone of saidjaw and cooperates with one of said release lugs affixed to each of saidcurved side arms.
 11. A binding according to claim 1, wherein said jawfurther comprises an insertion pedal adapted to be engaged by the boot,and wherein each of said curved side arms comprises a lower arm portionpositioned to face an upper surface of the gliding board, each of saidlower arm portions comprising a point of inflexion located approximatelyperpendicular to said insertion pedal of said jaw, each of said lowerarm portions extending from said point of inflexion along a rectilinearportion forming an angle A with a plane of said gliding board.
 12. Abinding according to claim 11, wherein in said boot inserted position ofsaid jaw, each of said lower arm portions of said curved side armsincludes a front arm portion, extending up to said point of inflexion,forming an angle B.
 13. A binding according to claim 1, furthercomprising a translational adjustment mechanism for said second journal,whereby said second journal, by which said curved arms are to bejournalled to the gliding board, is adjustable translationally withrespect to the gliding board.
 14. A binding according to claim 13,wherein said translational adjustment mechanism for said second journalcomprises a generally U-shaped plate movable translationally withrespect to the gliding board has a width equal to a free space betweensaid curved side arms.
 15. A binding according to claim 14, wherein therear of the plate comprises a device for elastic stabilization of saidcurved arms with respect to a plane of the gliding board, said devicecomprising an elastic piston with two end-pieces each cooperating with apositioning dome arranged at a bottom of each of said curved side arms.16. A binding according to claim 14, wherein said plate also receives afoot-rest cover having a support zone for the boot sole constituted byan edge of a dihedron transverse to said longitudinal plane.
 17. Abinding according to claim 16, wherein said dihedron includes planesforming an angle A with respect to a plane of the sole of the boot. 18.A binding according to claim 14, wherein said plate also receives afootrest cover, bearings adapted to receive a ski brake are arrangedbeneath said foot-rest cover.
 19. A binding according to claim 18,wherein said translational adjustment mechanism for said second journalfurther comprises a slide with respect to which said plate is adjustablyaffixed, and wherein said bearings for the ski brake are constructed toreceive returns of an energy buckle of the ski brake, said bearingsbeing constituted by a recess in walls of said plate to maintain saidbuckle returns against an upper surface of said slide.
 20. A bindingaccording to claim 18 in combination with said ski brake.
 21. A bindingaccording to claim 1, wherein said gliding board is a ski and saidbinding is a heel binding.